Module LZF-2040:French Language Skills

Module Facts

Overall aims and purpose

To consolidate and expand on students' knowledge of French grammar and vocabulary.

To develop translation skills into and out of the target language, and skills in manipulation of written French.

To develop oral and aural skills.

To familiarise students with lexis relevant to their forthcoming residence abroad, and other sociocultural contexts.

Students on this module will be working towards achieving B2/C1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

Course content

Building on the foundations of the first year language course, classes on written language skills, listening comprehension and translation into English, and oral communication skills will further develop proficiency and fluency in French. Written language skills include grammar review, paraphrasing, translation into French and essay-writing, and will focus on journalistic, literary and professional language. Listening comprehension classes will draw from modern, authentic material including recent French TV reports, and involve comprehension and paraphrasing exercises. The language materials used will concern the following topics: media, employability, the arts and socio-cultural debates. Oral skills will develop fluency across different registers of spoken French. All classes seek to develop the skills students will need for their third year in a French-speaking country.

Assessment Criteria

threshold

40-49%: A limited knowledge of vocabulary and grammar and a limited ability to translate and paraphrase the prescribed range of texts. Basic oral and aural competence.

good

50-69%: A good knowledge of vocabulary and grammar and a good ability to translate and manipulate a variety of textual material. Good oral and aural competence.

excellent

70+%: An excellent knowledge of vocabulary and grammar and an excellent ability to translate and otherwise manipulate texts, with a firm understanding of register. Excellent oral and aural competence.

Learning outcomes

Students will be able to communicate effectively in French across a range of different registers.

Students will develop their ability to use their expanding French vocabulary appropriately and correctly in a range of different contexts.

Students will have engaged with a range of different skills, including translation, stylistic analysis, exposé and essay-writing.

Assessment Methods

Type

Name

Description

Weight

COMPREHENSION TEST

compréhension audiovisuelle

10

CLASS TEST

traduction en anglais

10

CLASS TEST

traduction en français

10

ESSAY

essay/written assignment

10

EXAM

exam (2 hour written exam)

25

EXAM

Oral Exam

25

CLASS TEST

Resume - Summary

10

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours

Private study

334

Seminar

66

Transferable skills

Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media

Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance

Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives

Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information

Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others

Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.

Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.

Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team

Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting

Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

Subject specific skills

The ability to use the target language creatively and precisely in more substantial written assignments in the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.14)

The ability to translate more substantial passages into and out of the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)

The ability to use the target language creatively and precisely in oral assignments, showing ease with a wider range of topics and registers in formal and informal situations. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)

Further develop aural comprehension skills in the target language, supported by a wide range of appropriate materials in different media. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)

The ability to read, understand and summarise more complex written texts in the target language. (Benchmark statement 5.3, 5.4)